Kathmandu, December 5

A 400/200-kVA high-voltage Dhalkebar substation is scheduled to start operations from January.

Once the substation comes into operation, it will be able to transmit cross-border electricity as well as strengthen the domestic distribution system. The gas insulated substation (GIS) is the only substation that is being built with the

sole investment of the government. GIS is a high voltage substation in which the major structures are contained in a sealed environment with sulphur hexafluoride gas as the insulating medium.

According to Kul Man Ghising, managing director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), after the completion of the substation, it will be able to export and import up to 1,000 megawatts of electricity to and from India.

As per him, this substation will be the sole hub of the country’s East-West electricity transmission and will be the biggest ever substation to carry out power trade with India. “The substation will help to transmit generated electricity from 456-megawatt Upper Tamakoshi and other major hydropower projects that are connected to the New-Khimti Substation.”

“With the 456MW Upper Tamakoshi hydropower project scheduled to be completed by ongoing fiscal year, Nepal will have surplus electricity from next fiscal and the Dhalkebar substation will help in the trade of electricity with India and also open the way for energy banking with the southern neighbour,” Ghising further said.

NEA is installing transformers with total capacity of 945kVA at the substation. It plans to distribute electricity in the domestic market and export surplus energy through 400 kVA Dhalkebar-Muzzaffapur cross-border transmission line.

As per Ghising, the required equipment for the substation has already been delivered to the site and its construction is nearly complete.

Meanwhile, the construction work of 400 kVA cross-border transmission line has already been completed and the transmission line is currently being charged.

NEA is also constructing 400/220 kVA substations each in Hetauda of Makawanpur and Duhabi of Sunsari, with the aim to strengthen domestic demand and ensure uninterrupted power supply to major industrial areas in Tarai region.

The government is spending Rs two billion for the construction of the Dhalkebar substation. Indian construction firm ABB Substations Contracting India Pvt Ltd is building the project and NEA Engineering is providing counsel for the project.